Line-up table



March 17, 1959 INVENTOR. C/aude K. Hu/en.

BY W

March 17, 1959 c. K. HULEN I LINE-UP TABLE 7 Filed May 18, 1955 I 4 Sheets -Shet 2 IN VEN TOR.

(/aude K. Hu/en.

' BY 2! '4 L6 V M ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent This invention relates to tables used in the graphic arts industry, and more particularly to such a table for drawing, laying out, lining up and registering one or more designs, plates, photographs and the like wherein accurate positioning and measuring is desired.

In the graphic arts industry, it is common practice to arrange a series of drawings, negativesor other copy in a group prior to the making of lithograph, photograving,

gravure and like plates whereby a plurality of reproduc tions can be printed or otherwise reproduced on single sheets and then cut by machine to separate same. Also,

in making plates for more than one color printing, it is necessary that the various parts he in accurate registry to prevent offsets and the like from occurring in the printing or reproduction process. In such layout, tables have been used wherein various straight edge members are moved on the table to aid in positioning the work. In such structures, the straight edge members were difficult to move, subject to looseness or wobble and difficult to operate from various positions on the table so that inaccuracies occurred in the layout of the work. Also, the meaturing means were not such as to properly cooperate with the straight edge members in giving accurate measurements which in many instances caused small inaccuracies to result in reproductions that rendered the reproductions unusable.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a.

line-uptable of a structure that overcomes the difficulties above-mentioned that have been experienced with conventional tables; to provide such a table with a tiltable table top that retains its rigidity and accuracy at all posi tions; to provide straight edge members arranged at right angles on the table top with means for effecting accurate parallel movement of each straight edge member across thetable; to provide a straight edge member moving mechanism with controls operable from any corner of the table top; to provide straight edge member moving mechanism that is easily adjustable for positioning the straight edge members at right angle relationship and positively retain such positioning during movement of the straight edge members; to provide such a table with tracks and guides on the straight edge members that cooperate with the moving mechanism to eliminate looseness andwobble in the straight edge members; to provide such a table with Vernier measuring devices adjustably mounted thereon, and cooperating means on the straight edge members whereby line drawing instruments moved along the straight edge members will produce lines in alignment with the desired graduation on the measuring instrument, and to provide such a table with lights and a translucent top which substantially uniformly light the entire working space on the table top, and to provide an accurate line-up table that is economical to manufacture, efiicient in use to obtain accuracy and speed in producing copy andlining up and registering same thereon.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details ofstructure,

tubular fluorescent lights 29, are mounted on fixtures the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a line-up table embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2, Fig. 3, and particularly illustrating the-drives for the straight edge moving mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the table on the line 3-3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a large perspective view of a corner of the table, particularly illustrating the straight edges and measuring members.

Fig. 5 is a large sectional view through the table on the line 5-5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a corner of the table top with portions broken away and removed" 1 designates a lay-out table which generally includes a table top 2 tiltably mounted on pivot members 3 on a base 4. The base preferably consists of a frame 5 with suitable panels 6 therein to provide end members 7 and 8 and a rear member 9, the end members being suitably connected as by a bar 10 to aid in providing a rigid structure having an open top and open front. Suitable casters 11 preferably of the type that the wheels thereof can be locked against rotation are arranged on the base to aid in moving the structure from one place to another.

The end members '7 and 8 preferably have substantially horizontal top faces 12 extending from the pivot members 3 rearwardly of the end member, and inclined faces 13 extending from the pivot members 3 forwardly to the The table top 2 includes a rectangular frame 15 having.

a front member 16, rear member 17 and end members 18 and 19 each preferably of angular cross section suitably joined at the ends to form a very rigid structure wherein one leg 20 of each member extends inwardly and theother'leg 21 of each member extends downwardly to form the front, rear and end walls of the frame 15, the

outer faces of said walls preferably being substantially in alignment with the outer faces of the base 4. The upper faces 22 of the legs 20 are accurately machined and cooperate to form a substantially flat plane surface with the inner edges 23 of the legs 20 cooperating to define acutout or opening having the size and area of the desired work receiving space of the table top.

A light receiving housing 24 is arranged under the opening defined by the edges 23 and preferably consists of a front wall 25, rear wall 26, each sloping downwardly and inwardly from the legs 26 of the front and rear members 16 and 17 respectively, and end walls 27 extending downwardly from the legs 20 of the end members 18 and 19 respectively, with their lower edges allconnected to a bottom member 23 to define an open top light receiving housing, the upper edges of the walls 25, 26 and 27, preferably being secured to the underface of the legs 20 adjacent the edges 23 thereof.

A plurality of suitable lights preferably elongated,

to the opening defined by the edges 23 of the frame members 20, said panel 33 overlying the marginal portions of the legs 20 around the opening and preferably resting on strips 34 of felt or other suitable material arranged over said marginal portions. The upper face 35 in the panel 33 is preferably a smooth flat plane surface and the edges 36 of said panel are ground or otherwise trimmed whereby adjacent edges are perpendicular. The edges 36 are also spaced inwardly relative to the outer walls of the frame 15.

Inner and outer guide strips 37 and 38 rest on the upper faces 22 and are secured to the respective front, rear and end members of the frame with adjacent edges 39 and 40 of the guide strips 37 and 38 repectively suitably and uniformly spaced apart. The guide strips 37 and 38 preferably are of the same thickness and the same thickness as the panel 33 and strip 34 whereby the upper faces 41 and 42 of the strips 37 and 38 respectively are in the same plane as the upper face 35 of the panel 33. The strips 37 are arranged completely around the periphery of the panel 33 with their inner edges 43 substantially engaging the peripheral edge of the panel 33, the edges of the strips being mitered as at 44 and the faces 39 accurately machined to form straight edges whereby the face 39 of one strip 37 is perpendicular to the face 39 of the adjacent strip 37. The inner faces or edges 40 of the strips 38 are also accurately machined to form straight edges, and said strips are arranged whereby the faces 40 thereon are parallel and uniformly spaced from the faces 39 of the strips 37 and cooperate therewith to form trackways 45. The strips 37 and 38 are secured to the leg of the frame members, for example, by studs 46 depending from the underfaces of said strips and extending through apertures 47 in the legs 20, suitable nuts 48 and washers 48 being arranged on the studs to fix the strips to the table frame and maintain the accurate position and spacing of the strips. The outer portions of the strips 38 preferably overhang the outer walls 21 of the frame 15 as at 49, Fig. 5. The upper faces of the strips 38 are each provided with a groove 50 extending substantially the full length thereof for slidably receiving suitable measuring devices such as scales 51 having suitable linear graduations 52 thereon. The grooves 50 are preferably substantially the same depth as the thickness of the scales whereby the upper faces of said scales and the upper faces 42 of the strips 38 on each side of the scales are substantially in the same plane. The scales 51 are shorter in length than the respective strips 38 for relative longitudinal movement and said scales are secured in selected relative position by means of clamps 53.

The clamps 53 each include a bar 54 having an upper portion arranged in slots 55 in the overhanging portion of the strips 38, these slots 55 extending inwardly in the strips 38 slightly beyond the outer edge of the respective scale 51. The bars 54 each have apertures 56 adjacent the lower ends thereof through which the shank 57 of a fastening device 58 extends. The fastening device illustrated is a screw having a threaded end screwed into a threaded bore 59 in the leg 21 of the frame. A nut or other spacer 60 is preferably threaded on to the shank 57 between the bar 54 and the leg 21 of the frame. Intermediate the length of the bar is an aperture 61 through which the shank of the screw 62 extends, the aperture 61 being in alignment with an aperture 63 in the leg 21 of the frame and the head 64 of the screw engages the inner surface of said leg and the threaded shank extends through the aperture 61. A nut or other suitable member 65 is threaded 4 on to the shank 62 whereby the nut 65 draws the upper end of the bar 54 toward the scale 51 and tightens same into place. A spring 66 is sleeved on each of the shanks 62 between the bars 54 and the legs 21 to urge the upper portion of the bars 54 outwardly relative to the table top.

Slots 67 are arranged in the leg 20 of the frame 1 in alignment with the trackways 45 or space between the strips 37 and 38 preferably adjacent the corners of the table. In the particular structure illustrated, the slots 67 form L-shaped slots as illustrated in Fig. 6 for receiving straight edge member moving means as later described. Straight edge members 68 and 69 extend longitudinally and transversely of the table top respectively and each of said straight edge members are preferably formed of flat material having side edges 70 and 71 that are accurately ground or otherwise machined whereby said edges define straight lines, the flat material is preferably beveled on the top portion as at 72 adjacent the edge 70 to reduce the thickness thereof. The straight edge members have their ends extending substantially in alignment with the outer edges of the strips 38 and are .connected adjacent their ends to guide members or blocks 73 slidably mounted in the trackways 45 or space between the strips 37 and 38 with the side faces 74 of said blocks 73 in sliding engagement with the faces 39 and 40 of said strips. The straight edge members are connected to the blocks by suitable fastening devices 75, for example, screws having shanks 76 extending through apertures 77 in the straight edges and threaded into bores 78 in the blocks, spacers 79 preferably being arranged between the straight edge members and the upper face of the respective blocks.

Strips 80 are preferably arranged under the straight edge members adjacent the edges of the table, with a portion 81 projecting beyond the edges 70 a distance substantially corresponding to one-half the thickness of a pencil lead or the like of a suitable marking device, the strips 80 overlying the scales 51 whereby the edges 81 overlie the graduations on said scales. The straight edge members are also preferably provided with arms 82 arranged thereon over the scales and having suitable magnifying lenses 83 therein to aid in accurately determining registration of the edge 81 with desired graduations of the scales.

The blocks 73 are suitably connected to flexible transmission members such as chains 84 that extend along the upper face of the leg 20 between the faces 39 and 40 of the strips 37 and 38, and through the slots 67 and in engagement with suitable driving means arranged thereunder. In the structure illustrated, the flexible members 84 are in the form of roller chains having their ends pivotally connected as at 85 to the respective blocks 73 whereby each of the chain assemblies are endless. Each of the chains are operatively engaged with sprockets 86 or other suitable driving members arranged under the legs 20 with the upper portions thereof in the slots 67, a driving member or sprocket 86 being at each end of the spaces between the strips 37 and 38 which extend longitudinally or transversely of the table top.

The sprockets or driving members 86 engaging the flexible members 84 extending longitudinally of the table are adjustably mounted on shafts 87 which extend transversely of the table, the shafts being rotatably mounted in bearings 88 in the legs 21 of the table frame 15, each end of the shafts 87 extending beyond the legs 21 and having operating members such as wheels 89 fixed thereto, the wheels preferably having crank handles 90 thereon. The sprockets which engage the flexible members 84 and extend transversely of the table are adjustably mounted on shafts 91 which extend longitudinally of the lugs 92 in the legs 21 of the table top frame 15 with the ends of said shafts extending beyond the legs 21 and having crank wheels 93 fixed thereon. The sprockets 86- are each adjustably keyed to the respective shaft by suitable fastening means, for example, spaced set screws 94. With this arrangement, there is a crank or other shaft rotating means at each corner of the table which through the sprockets and chains simultaneously move both ends of the respective straight edge, whereby both straight edge members may be moved by an operator located at any of the corners of the table.

In adjusting the straight edges to perpendicular relationship, the set screws 94 of the sprockets engaging one of the chains operating the particular straight edge member are loosened and then while the respective shafts are held stationary, the respective block 73 is moved until the straight edge is perpendicular to the other. Then the set screws are retightened to hold the straight edges and their moving mechanism in desired relationship. It is to be noted that in order for the shafts to extend both longitudinally and transversely of the table top that one pair of shafts is positioned above the other, and the sprockets on the uppermost shafts are smaller in diameter than the sprockets on the lower shafts, and while this size difference will effect the extent of movement of a straight edge per revolution of the respective shaft, it does not otherwise change the operation. In order to eliminate slack or looseness in the flexible members 84, idlers 95 and 96 are rotatably mounted on opposite ends of arms 97 and in engagement with the respective flexible members as illustrated in Fig. 3. The arms 97 are mounted on fastening devices 98 for pivotal movement in adjusting the idlers and then the fastening devices are tightened to hold the arms 97 in selected position.

The table top is held at desired incline by means of arms 99 suitably connected to the frame 15 and extending through sleeves 100 fixed on the side members 7 and 8 adjacent the forward edges thereof. Suitable fastening devices 101 are arranged in each of the sleeves 100 for engagement with the arms 99 to hold same in selected position.

In using a table constructed and assembled as described, the nuts 65 are loosened whereby the spring 66 move the bars 54 out of engagement with the respective scales and said scales are then moved to position the graduations thereon approximately as desired relative to Work to be placed on the table top and the nuts tightened whereby the bars 54 clamp the scales in place. Then the layout work is suitably mounted on the panel 33 and the crank wheels 89 and 93 operated to rotate the shafts 87 and 91 respectively to turn the sprockets thereon and through the flexible members 84 move the blocks 73 and straight edge members until the edges 81 align with desired graduations on the scales. Then the work is secured to the panel 33 in accordance to the positions as determined by the straight edge members. Then the straight edge members are again moved by respective crank wheels, and the linear movement determined by looking through the magnification lenses 83 at the alignment of the graduations on the scales and the edges 81, and suitable lines or other markings placed on the work. These operations are continued until the layout is completed. If light under the table top is desired, the switches 32 are operated to energize the lights 29 to provide the desired illumination. The flexible members being in tension and the sides of the blocks 73 engaging the faces 39 and 40 of the strips 37 and 38 respectively prevent undesired movement of the straight edge members thereby maintaining accuracy in the layout operations.

It is believed obvious I have provided a line-up table that is eflicient in operation, in maintaining accuracy, making necessary movements of the straight edge members, determining linear measurements and that is easily manipulated from any desired work position of an operator.

6. What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. A line-up table. of the character described comprising, a table top frame, said table top frame being sub: stantially rectangular in shape, a table top panel having marginal portions overlying portions of the table top frame, the edges of said table top panel being spaced from the outer edges of the table top frame, spaced strips arranged longitudinally and transversely of the tabletop frame and fixed thereto between the edges of the table top panel and outer edges of the table top frame with the adjacent faces of the strips defining trackways having parallel sides with the trackways on opposite sides of the table parallel and with said trackways perpendicular to the trackways adjacent the other edges of the table top frame, said table top frame having slots therein spaced from the outer edges; of the table top frame'and, adjacent the ends of the trackways, said slots being in alignment with the respective trackways, straight edge members extending transversely and longitudinally of the table top panel and overlying the trackways, guide members slidably mounted in the respective parallel trackways and engaging the adjacent faces of the strips defining the trackways, means securing the straight edge members to the guide members, endless flexible members secured to the end portions of the guide members substantially midway the height thereof and extending through the slots in the table top frame whereby each flexible member has one run under the table top and the other run movable in the respective trackways, shafts extending substantially transversely of the trackways adjacent the ends thereof and under the table top panel with the shafts on opposite sides of the table parallel and with said shafts perpendicular to the shafts adjacent the other edges of the table, said shafts being rotatably mounted in the frame with the parallel shafts at said opposite sides of the table in overlying relation to the other shafts that are perpendicular thereto, means adjustably connected to the shaft and extending through their respective slot in the panel for operatively engaging the flexible members whereby rotation of the shafts moves the flexible members to simultaneously move each end of the straight edge members, and means exteriorly of the table top frame and operatively connected to the shafts for rotating same.

2. A line-up table of the character described comprising, a table top frame, said table top frame being substantially rectangular in shape and defining a central opening, a translucent table top panel having marginal portions overlying and supported by the marginal portions of the table top frame adjacent the central opening therein, the edges of said table top panel being spaced from the outer edges of the table top frame, spaced strips arranged longitudinally and transversely of the table top frame and fixed thereto between the edges of the table top panel and outer edges of the table top frame with the adjacent faces of the strips defining trackways having parallel sides with the trackways on opposite sides of the table parallel and with said trackways perpendicular to the trackways adjacent the other edges of the table top frame, straight edge members extending transversely and longitudinally of the table top panel and overlying the trackways, guide members slidably mounted in the respective parallel trackways and engaging the adjacent faces of the strips defining the trackways, means securing the straight edge members to the guide members, lengths of chains having links at the ends thereof secured to the guide members substantially midway the height thereof, shafts extending substantially transversely of the trackways adjacent the ends thereof and under the table top panel with the shafts on opposite sides of the table parallel and with said shafts perpendicular to the shafts adjacent the other edges of the table, said shafts being rotatably mounted in the frame with the parallel shafts at said opposite sides of the table in overlying relation to the shafts perpendicular thereto, said table top frame having slots therein adjacent the ends of the trackways slots, said chains each extending through the respective 5' slots and having one run movable in the respective trackways and the other run under the table top whereby said chains are operatively engaged with the respective sprockets, means adjustably mounted under the table top and engaging the chains to tighten said chains whereby rotation of the shafts moves the chains to simultaneously move each end of the straight edge members, and means exteriorly of the table top frame and operatively con nected to the shafts for rotating same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 543,492 Laughlin et al. July 30, 1895 547,800 Nord Oct. 15, 1895 1,443,998 Metzer Feb. 6, 1923 1,761,863 Bassist June.3, 1930 2,006,408 Reichert July 2, 1935 2,502,039 Floyd Mar. 28, 1950 2,643,326 Knapp June 23, 1953 2,682,709 Watson July 6, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,674 England 1904 644,784 England Oct. 15, 1950 v OTHER REFERENCES Craftsman Line-up and Register Tables, the Craftsman 5 Line-up Table Corp., 49-59 River St., Waltham, Mass,

Oct. 1, 1946. (Copy in Div. 66 Class 33-80, only pgs. 1, 6 and 7 necessary.) 

